01-11-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 14, 2015 6:30 o'clock p.m. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT (continued) McMillan stated she had talked with the family and they were a go with the off -leash dog area but that they would like the City pay for the infrastructure for that area. McMillan stated she suggested this item be brought before the City Council in February since it would involve some more complex issues and that she would like the Council to work in tandem with the Park Commission on this item. McMillan stated she would also like to thank Staff for their hard work this year and that in her view it has been a productive year. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT 18. WAYZATA FIRE SERVICE AGREEMENT City Administrator Loftus stated before the City Council tonight is the Wayzata Fire Service Agreement. Loftus noted the City has contracted with the City of Wayzata for fire service to a portion of Orono since at least 1962. Loftus noted the cost is going down slightly from 2015. Printup stated he is opposed to this old, expensive contract. Printup stated the agreement is over 50 years old and that the data and facts will speak for themselves. Printup stated in his view the City could get very similar service for much less and that this is not the first time he has talked about this. Printup noted he had suggested holding neighborhood meetings, which did not happen, but that it is time to act on this and move the other way. Printup stated in his view this has been an issue in the past of emotion versus logic and that there is no threat to public safety if the agreement is not renewed. Printup noted there are nearly 4,000 parcels in Orono. This contract will cost $29,000 for 2016 and covers approximately 180 parcels, which is approximately 4.5 percent of Orono. With an average of 22 calls for service per year, that is over $1,000 a call. According to the NFPA, the National Fire Protection Association, the average response time for a rural area of less than 500 people per square mile is 14 minutes. Orono's response time is far below that, with an average of 6.29 minutes. Orono's response time is way below average. Printup noted there is also a department in Navarre that sits one mile from Minnetonka Beach but yet the department in another city three miles away covers Minnetonka Beach. Printup stated the Orono Police Department is usually on the scene first. From a public safety factor, the police are normally on the scene first and the local departments also have mutual aid to help people. Printup stated the bottom line is that people get help and they get help fast and are usually attended to by the police before anyone else. Printup stated the bottom line deals with the following three issues: (1) There is no threat to public health and safety by voting the contract down. Fire departments fight fires. While police cannot fight a fire, they can render aid and be on the scene. (2) The police are normally on the scene first and can provide aid. (3) The police are normally on the scene for alarms and many times they are false alarms. Nearly all calls for service are medically related alarms and not for fire calls. Printup stated based on quantity and the pricing formula, the contract cost to add 180 parcel service area to Long Lake would be around $4,500 as a result of the call area being so small versus $29,000 with Wayzata. Printup stated this would allow savings to the taxpayers without diminished service. Page 38 of 44